WeRide Expands European Presence with Autonomous Robobus Shuttle Deployment at Zurich Airport
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) has announced the deployment of its Robobus autonomous shuttle service at Zurich Airport in collaboration with Flughafen Zürich AG and Swiss Transit Lab. The nine-passenger Robobus will be the first commercial autonomous bus shuttle at a European airport, operating between employee gates 101 and 130 starting Q1 2025.
The deployment follows WeRide's successful operations at Roland-Garros during the 2024 French Open, where Robobus provided shuttle services on a five-kilometer route. Prior to the Zurich implementation, WeRide's Robotaxi completed route mapping at the airport, showcasing potential for expanded applications in Switzerland.
The challenging Alpine environment at Zurich Airport has been successfully addressed by WeRide's technology, which has been tested across more than 30 cities in seven countries. The initial phase will include a safety driver, with plans to transition to remote monitoring operations.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) ha annunciato il lancio del suo servizio di navetta autonoma Robobus presso l'Aeroporto di Zurigo, in collaborazione con Flughafen Zürich AG e Swiss Transit Lab. Il Robobus, che può ospitare nove passeggeri, sarà il primo bus navetta autonomo commerciale in un aeroporto europeo, operando tra i cancelli dipendenti 101 e 130 a partire dal primo trimestre del 2025.
Il lancio segue le operazioni di successo di WeRide a Roland-Garros durante il Torneo di Francia 2024, dove Robobus ha fornito servizi di navetta su un percorso di cinque chilometri. Prima dell'implementazione a Zurigo, il Robotaxi di WeRide ha completato la mappatura del percorso all'aeroporto, dimostrando il potenziale per applicazioni espanse in Svizzera.
Il difficile ambiente alpino dell'Aeroporto di Zurigo è stato affrontato con successo dalla tecnologia di WeRide, testata in oltre 30 città in sette paesi. La fase iniziale includerà un autista per la sicurezza, con piani per passare alle operazioni di monitoraggio remoto.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) ha anunciado el lanzamiento de su servicio de lanzadera autónoma Robobus en el Aeropuerto de Zúrich, en colaboración con Flughafen Zürich AG y Swiss Transit Lab. El Robobus, que puede transportar a nueve pasajeros, será la primera lanzadera de autobús autónomo comercial en un aeropuerto europeo, operando entre las puertas de empleados 101 y 130 a partir del primer trimestre de 2025.
El lanzamiento sigue a las operaciones exitosas de WeRide en Roland-Garros durante el Abierto de Francia 2024, donde Robobus brindó servicios de lanzadera en un recorrido de cinco kilómetros. Antes de la implementación en Zúrich, el Robotaxi de WeRide completó la cartografía de la ruta en el aeropuerto, mostrando un potencial para aplicaciones ampliadas en Suiza.
El desafiante entorno alpino del Aeropuerto de Zúrich ha sido abordado con éxito por la tecnología de WeRide, que ha sido probada en más de 30 ciudades en siete países. La fase inicial incluirá un conductor de seguridad, con planes para pasar a operaciones de monitoreo remoto.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD)는 Flughafen Zürich AG 및 Swiss Transit Lab과 협력하여 로보버스 자율 셔틀 서비스를 취리히 공항에 배포했다고 발표했습니다. 아홉 명의 승객을 수용할 수 있는 로보버스는 유럽 공항에서 운영되는 최초의 상업적인 자율 버스 셔틀로, 2025년 1분기부터 직원 게이트 101과 130 사이에서 운행될 예정입니다.
배포는 2024 프랑스 오픈 동안 롤랑가로스에서의 WeRide의 성공적인 운영을 따릅니다. 여기서 로보버스는 5킬로미터 경로를 따라 셔틀 서비스를 제공했습니다. 취리히 구현에 앞서 WeRide의 로보택시는 공항에서 경로 매핑을 완료하여 스위스에서의 확장된 응용 가능성을 보여주었습니다.
취리히 공항의 도전적인 알프스 환경은 WeRide의 기술에 의해 성공적으로 해결되었으며, 이는 7개국의 30개 이상의 도시에서 테스트되었습니다. 초기 단계에서는 안전 운전자가 포함될 것이며, 원격 모니터링 작업으로 전환할 계획입니다.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) a annoncé le déploiement de son service de navette autonome Robobus à l'aéroport de Zurich en collaboration avec Flughafen Zürich AG et Swiss Transit Lab. Le Robobus, capable d'accueillir neuf passagers, sera le premier bus navette autonome commercial dans un aéroport européen, fonctionnant entre les portes des employés 101 et 130 à partir du premier trimestre 2025.
Ce déploiement fait suite aux opérations réussies de WeRide à Roland-Garros lors de l'Open de France 2024, où Robobus a assuré des services de navette sur un parcours de cinq kilomètres. Avant la mise en œuvre à Zurich, le Robotaxi de WeRide a complété le traçage des itinéraires à l'aéroport, montrant le potentiel d'applications élargies en Suisse.
L'environnement alpin difficile de l'aéroport de Zurich a été efficacement abordé par la technologie de WeRide, qui a été testée dans plus de 30 villes de sept pays. La phase initiale comprendra un conducteur de sécurité, avec des projets de transition vers des opérations de surveillance à distance.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) hat den Start seines Robobus autonomen Shuttle-Service am Flughafen Zürich in Zusammenarbeit mit Flughafen Zürich AG und Swiss Transit Lab bekannt gegeben. Der neunstuhlige Robobus wird der erste kommerzielle autonome Shuttle-Bus an einem europäischen Flughafen sein und soll ab dem ersten Quartal 2025 zwischen den Mitarbeitertoren 101 und 130 verkehren.
Die Einführung folgt auf die erfolgreichen Einsätze von WeRide bei Roland-Garros während der French Open 2024, wo Robobus Shuttle-Dienste auf einer fünf Kilometer langen Strecke anbot. Vor der Umsetzung in Zürich hat das Robotaxi von WeRide die Routenplanung am Flughafen abgeschlossen und damit das Potenzial für erweiterte Anwendungen in der Schweiz gezeigt.
Die herausfordernde alpine Umgebung am Flughafen Zürich wurde erfolgreich durch die Technologie von WeRide angegangen, die in mehr als 30 Städten in sieben Ländern getestet wurde. In der Anfangsphase wird es einen Sicherheitsfahrer geben, mit dem Plan, zu einem Fernüberwachungsbetrieb überzugehen.
- First commercial autonomous bus shuttle deployment at a European airport
- Expansion into key European market with Zurich Airport partnership
- Successful technology validation in challenging Alpine conditions
- Potential for expanded Robotaxi applications in Switzerland
- Initial phase requires safety driver, indicating technology not yet fully autonomous
- route deployment between two employee gates only
Insights
The Zurich Airport deployment represents a strategic expansion of WeRide's European footprint in the autonomous vehicle (AV) sector. Operating in harsh Alpine conditions demonstrates the robustness of WeRide's technology stack - handling snow, ice and complex airport logistics validates their system's adaptability beyond controlled environments. The successful route mapping for future Robotaxi operations indicates a clear path to broader commercial applications.
The fixed-route shuttle service is an ideal use case for current AV technology limitations. Airports provide structured environments with predictable traffic patterns, making them perfect testing grounds before expanding to more challenging urban deployments. The transition plan from safety drivers to remote monitoring aligns with industry best practices for gradual autonomy rollout.
WeRide's partnership network, including Renault Group and multiple European airports, positions them well against competitors like Cruise and Waymo. Their presence in 30 cities across 7 countries provides valuable diverse data sets for improving their autonomous systems. The Zurich deployment could accelerate regulatory approvals for similar services across Europe.
This strategic deployment at Zurich Airport carries substantial commercial implications. The airport transportation market represents a lucrative niche with predictable passenger flows and controlled environments ideal for autonomous operations. By focusing on employee transportation first, WeRide minimizes initial risks while establishing operational credibility.
The connection with airports in Brussels and Amsterdam suggests a potential standardized approach to autonomous airport mobility across Europe. This could create significant scaling opportunities as airports seek to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency. The French Open deployment validates WeRide's ability to handle high-profile, time-sensitive operations.
In simpler terms: Think of this as WeRide building a "proven playbook" for airport autonomous services - start with employee shuttles, prove it works, then expand to passenger services. It's like testing a new restaurant concept in a food court before opening standalone locations. The fact that other major airports are already watching suggests they're onto something valuable.
ZURICH, Jan. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced deployment of its Robobus autonomous shuttle service at Zurich Airport in partnership with Flughafen Zürich AG and Swiss Transit Lab (STL), marking a significant milestone in bringing autonomous mobility solutions to a major European aviation hub, and building on WeRide's successful European operations, including its recent autonomous shuttle service at Roland-Garros during the 2024 French Open.
The WeRide Robobus, which accommodates nine passengers, will be the first commercial autonomous bus shuttle project at a European airport. It will serve airport employees along a dedicated route connecting the employee entrance at gate 101 to the maintenance area at gate 130. Service will begin in the first quarter of 2025.
Flughafen Zürich AG is working with airports in Brussels and Amsterdam that are also testing technologies for autonomous vehicles. Before the start of test Robobus operations, WeRide's autonomous taxi, Robotaxi, completed route mapping at Zurich Airport, demonstrating that WeRide's Robotaxi will have more applications in Switzerland.
At the foot of the Alps, Zurich Airport presents severe challenges to autonomous driving technology due to complex operational environment and climatic conditions. WeRide successfully overcame these challenges with its strong technical capabilities and rich implementation experience, providing a mature and reliable solution.
The Zurich Airport service follows the successful deployment in Paris, where Robobus provided efficient shuttle services on a five-kilometer route during the French Open, as part of an ongoing collaboration with Renault Group to promote low-carbon public transportation solutions.
The Robobus deployment leverages WeRide's advanced autonomous driving technology, which has undergone extensive testing and validation across more than 30 cities in seven countries. The initial phase at Zurich Airport includes a safety driver on board, with plans to transition to remote monitoring operations.
“WeRide possesses a fully developed and thoroughly tested technology, meets all of the legal and safety requirements in place at Zurich Airport and guarantees that it will meet the data protection requirements set out,” Flughafen Zürich AG said in a statement.
The Company will work with Swiss Transit Lab to ensure smooth operation of the service.
Contact
Edmond Lococo
ICR, LLC
+1 (332) 242-4398
FAQ
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